The Ascot Festival gets underway today for three days excellent racing of which the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes, a Group 1 worth £250,000.00 for 3yo's+ over the Ascot round mile, takes centre stage and will be run on Saturday. There have been some super horses win this race over the years and in my blog of the race in September 2007 I did list past winners since 1959. This year sees Henrythenavigator and Ravens Pass (pictured) take on each other again. There was not much between them on their last meeting and I am hoping this time Ravens Pass can get his head in front where it matters. For the third Saturday running I will be recording the racing on my Sky+ box for watching later in the day. I will be at Portman Road Ipswich to cheer on "The Blues" and hope to see them secure a badly needed three points. I see there has been a lot of money for Duke of Marmalade for the Prix de L'Arc de Triomphe which will be run next Sunday (5th October) in France. If the going remains good I am sure he will take a lot of beating. However if the going changed to soft Ballydoyle have Soldier of Fortune to fall back on. It appears this has always been his long term objective, but I guess much depends on the going for both horses. For all the runners and riders for Ascot click on the sporting life. For all the runners and riders with the jockey's colours go to Paddy Power and click on "Horse Racing".

The Doncaster St Leger Meeting got under way on Wednesday the 10th with the build up over the four days to the St Leger which will be run on Saturday. Today (Friday) we have the Doncaster Cup to look forward to. This is a Group 2 for 3yo's+ run over 2 miles 2 furlongs. The race is worth £100,000 and if Honolulu shows the same form he displayed at Royal Ascot he could provide Aidan O'Brien and the Ballydoyle team with another big race success. They certainly have all the best stayers this season and tomorrow at the Curragh Septimus (pictured) is expected to win the Irish St Leger, a Group 1 run over 1 mile 6 furlongs for 3yo's+. This race is worth 300,000 euros and Seamie Hefferman gets the mount on Septimus as Johnny Murtagh will be at Doncaster to ride Frozen Fire in our St Leger. Our St Leger, a Group 1, is worth £500,000 and is for 3yo colts and fillies run over 1mile 6 furlongs. Frozen Fire has not run since Seamie Hefferman rode him to win the Irish Derby. In my blog of September 2007 I did reminisce and list past winners of the St Leger so I will not go over that ground again. There is an added bonus on Saturday as Doncaster now stages the Haydock Sprint Cup, postponed from last Saturday and now renamed the Ladbrokes Sprint Cup with the same declared runners. The going should still suit Utmost Respect although there appears to be plenty of confidence behind African Rose from France. For all the runners and riders with the jockeys colours click on the sporting life. The postman has just delivered my copy of the Timeform Chasers & Hurdlers 2007/08. It will not be long before the National Hunt season starts in earnest and we will be counting down to the great Cheltenham Festival next March, which will take place on Tuesday 10th, Wednesday 11th, Thursday 12th and Friday 13th. I cannot wait ! For all the runners and riders with the jockey's colours go to Paddy Power and click on "Horse Racing".

Lets hope the Leopardstown Meeting is able to go ahead and Duke of Marmalade turns up for a re-match with New Approach in the Group 1 Irish Champion Stakes worth one million euros and run over one mile two furlongs for 3yo's+. I did not think either horse was at their best in the Juddmonte run at Newmarket. Phoenix Tower made the "Duke" pull out all the stops and New Approach was far too fresh in the early stages of the race. Both horses ran on well once they hit the rising ground at Newmarket though and the best horse on the day won. With the weight of money for New Approach on Wednesday evening it looks as though he is expected to win this years Irish Champion Stakes. Earlier in the afternoon the Matron Stakes, a Group 1 for 3yo+ fillies and mares, will be run over one mile. Lush Lashes will be a warm order for this but Nahoodh (pictured) with Mick Kinane aboard this time will like the ground and if she can produce the form she showed when winning the Falmouth Stakes at Newmarket she could go close. For all the runners and riders with jockeys colours click on the sporting life. For all the runners and riders with the jockey's colours go to Paddy Power and click on "Horse Racing".

Thankfully Sakhee's Secret does not run in this years Haydock Betfred Sprint Cup, a Group 1 run over six furlongs for 3 year olds plus. His last two runs have been very disappointing to say the least ! There looks to be something radically wrong with the horse. I would be surprised if we saw him on the racecourse again. In my blog of September 2007 I did discuss and list past winners of the Haydock Sprint since 1966. This years race will be run on heavy ground which will suit Utmost Respect and he is deservedly favourite with the bookmakers. Corryborough (pictured) has been brought along steadily by Henry Candy but this could be a big ask for him. African Rose comes over from France and must command respect but the blogger will be hoping to see Utmost Respect prove the bookmakers right. For all the runners and riders with the jockeys colours click on the sporting life. For all the runners and riders with the jockey's colours go to Paddy Power and click on "Horse Racing".